Haifa, << HY fuh >> (pop. 282,832), is a major port and manufacturing and cultural center in Israel. It lies on and around Mount Carmel in northern Israel, and is the administrative center of the area. It borders the Bay of Haifa at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. Haifa has three sections. The lower section, around the bottom of Mount Carmel, includes port facilities, warehouses, apartment buildings, and scattered slums. The main business district covers most of the mountain slopes. The upper part consists mostly of large houses, apartment buildings, and gardens and parks on top of the mountain.
Many religious landmarks are in the Haifa area, including the Bahá’í World Centre, the Stella Maris Carmelite monastery, and Elijah’s Cave. The prophet Elijah hid in the cave to escape from his enemies. Haifa has two universities. Its industries include oil refining and the manufacture of cement, chemicals, electronic equipment, glass, steel, and textiles. It is also a shipping and railroad center.
People lived in what is now the Haifa area about 3,000 years ago. Haifa was a small town until the mid-1850’s, when it was first used as a port.
